Rhino: Agencies – Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday formally endorsed Masoud Bozeshkian as president of the Islamic republic after he won elections this month pledging a pragmatic foreign policy and easing repression at home.

The relatively moderate politician will be sworn in on Tuesday, beginning his term at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East over the conflict between Israel and both the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza and the Iran-allied Hezbollah group in Lebanon.

Hizbullah has denied any responsibility for the attack.

In a ceremony broadcast live on state television, Khamenei announced the ratification of Bazeshkian’s election and in a speech reiterated Iran’s anti-Israel stance.

Bazeshkian succeeds conservative President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May.